Israeli Settlers Torch 2 West Bank Mosques and 6 Vehicles, Trapping 92-Year-Old Worshipper
Updated
Updated · Al Jazeera English · Jun 17
Israeli Settlers Torch 2 West Bank Mosques and 6 Vehicles, Trapping 92-Year-Old Worshipper
3 articles · Updated · Al Jazeera English · Jun 17
Summary
Masked settlers stormed Deir Dibwan’s al-Marah mosque on June 14, set a fire at a window and torched six residents’ vehicles while 92-year-old Palestinian American Yasser Rashid was inside after Maghrib prayer.
Surveillance footage showed the attackers breaking into inner rooms before splitting roles—one group targeted the mosque and Rashid, others hit nearby homes, crops and cars, according to the town’s mayor.
A second arson attack followed at Burqa’s al-Noor mosque, where assailants burned tyres and flammable materials at the doors in an apparent attempt to set the building ablaze.
The attacks fit a wider surge: Palestinian officials recorded 22 assaults on Muslim religious sites in May 2026 and 1,659 attacks by Israeli forces and settlers overall, including 551 by settlers alone.
UN data says more than 117 West Bank communities have faced full or partial displacement from settler attacks, while Rashid appealed to Washington for protection for Palestinian Americans.